Are the much touted "green" jobs which will boost our economy nothing but hot air? In an essay by Ronald Bailey "Red Ink and Green Jobs" Reason July, 2010, wrote a critical analysis of the green jobs economy which is supposed to happen in California and the passage of AB 32 The Global Warming Solutions Act signed by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which calls for a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gases.
He quotes Next 10, an environmental think tank based in San Francisco reports about green jobs: "California green jobs increased by 36 percent from 1995-2008 while total jobs expanded only 13 percent. As the economy slowed between 2007-2008, total employment fell 1 percent, but green jobs continued to grow by 5 percent." Bailey refuted those statistics. "A 36 percent increase sounds impressive. But when you look at the actual numbers, green jobs increased from 117,000 in 1995 to 159,000 in 2008 and currently constitute about 1 percent of California's total employment. A 5 percent increase in green employment amounts to about 8,000 jobs." Bailey goes on to write, "Between January 2007 and January 2008, some 182,000 Californians lost their jobs. Currently, some 2.3 million Californians are looking for work." This means the much touted green jobs isn't going to make any dent in California's economy. Even Next 10 founder F. Noel Perry admitted, "Green tech is not a panacea. We believe green jobs are going to be a significant part of future jobs growth in California. But, at the same time, we know they are a small proportion of the total jobs we have now."
If you want to read the article here it is: Premium Link Upgrade
He quotes Next 10, an environmental think tank based in San Francisco reports about green jobs: "California green jobs increased by 36 percent from 1995-2008 while total jobs expanded only 13 percent. As the economy slowed between 2007-2008, total employment fell 1 percent, but green jobs continued to grow by 5 percent." Bailey refuted those statistics. "A 36 percent increase sounds impressive. But when you look at the actual numbers, green jobs increased from 117,000 in 1995 to 159,000 in 2008 and currently constitute about 1 percent of California's total employment. A 5 percent increase in green employment amounts to about 8,000 jobs." Bailey goes on to write, "Between January 2007 and January 2008, some 182,000 Californians lost their jobs. Currently, some 2.3 million Californians are looking for work." This means the much touted green jobs isn't going to make any dent in California's economy. Even Next 10 founder F. Noel Perry admitted, "Green tech is not a panacea. We believe green jobs are going to be a significant part of future jobs growth in California. But, at the same time, we know they are a small proportion of the total jobs we have now."
If you want to read the article here it is: Premium Link Upgrade
